Leadership and Management

Early childhood administrators need to be well-versed in standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Having comprehensive knowledge of these standards will help to ensure a quality early childhood program. Review the article, “Overview of the NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards” with particular attention to Standard 10: Leadership and Management.

Rationale:
Excellent programming requires effective governance structures, competent and knowledgeable leadership, as well as comprehensive and well-functioning administrative policies, procedures, and systems. Effective leadership and management create the environment for high-quality care and education by:

1. Ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines
2. Promoting fiscal soundness, program accountability, effective communication, helpful consultative services, positive community relations, and comfortable and supportive workplaces.
3. Maintaining stable staff; and
4. Instituting ongoing program planning and career development opportunities for staff as well as continuous program improvement.

Application:
You are the director of your own childcare center.  Using Standard #10 in “Overview of the NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards” as a guide, create an eight- to ten-slide PowerPoint presentation to share with your staff, demonstrating the following NAEYC points:

1. Effective communication
   • Explain how you will effectively communicate with your staff.
2. Comfortable and supportive workplaces
   • Describe how you will create a comfortable and supportive workplace for your staff.
3. Career development opportunities for staff
   • Discuss how you will create professional development opportunities for your staff.
4. Hiring and retention
   • Explain how you will attract and retain quality staff members.

Your eight- to ten-slide PowerPoint presentation (in addition to your title and reference slides) should:

• Creatively address the material including graphics, visuals, charts, graphs, and/or sound;
• Be designed to clearly and concisely address the material;
• Be formatted according to APA style, including the title slide, reference slide, and in-text citations;
• Utilize the notes section of the PowerPoint to expand on the presented points. These notes would be your talking points when presenting this to your staff; and
• Use at least one scholarly source in addition to the course text.